AmeriCorps Grad Uses Education Award to Explore Tanzania

After a year of service at City Year Boston, Brenna Eaton used her AmeriCorps education award to fund her NOLS course in Tanzania. In addition to gaining confidence in her outdoors skills, Brenna enjoyed learning about Tanzanian culture and history from the local communities her group visited.

“Like my City Year experience, NOLS gave me the patience to face new challenges with spirit. I made my way through the backcountry following game trails made by animals and got within a dozen feet of some of them. I learned about Tanzanian culture, history and the environment, and practiced basic Swahili. I tried bee pollen and larvae, a great source of protein! We roasted food cooked over a bonfire with local community members. I listened to hyenas pad quietly around my tent at night. I visited both rainforests and deserts and saw the Southern Cross below the equator. I hiked into and out of a giant crater full of flamingos and learned how to protect my things from being stolen by sneaky, rainbow-colored monkeys. I visited historical sites like Olduvai Gorge, went on a safari, and hiked around an active volcano. All of this with a 50-60 lb. bag on my back.”

Learn more about using your AmeriCorps education award at NOLS.